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TEMPTATIONS 40
days in the wilderness 40
nights alone My
only friend the desert rat Scurrying
for cover under a sundrenched sky Dust
devils weave their magic Dancing
patterns of dust at my feet Gravel
in my hair My
mouth too dry to speak Visions
of food waft before me Hot
bread, Cool wine Except
this is a fantasy The
LORD alone is my reality The
tempter hasn’t finished yet He
know how this will end Visions
of my future, betrayal, despair and death Does
he really think I care? Leave
this trap and come to me Worship
me and you can have it all Liar!
He doesn’t have the world to give I
and my Father are one Cool
breath of God whispers over me Bathed
in the Spirit’s light Refreshing
waters of life run through me.

I have been a lifelong supporter of Manchester United, probably in part because my Dad supported them and I learnt about the Munich Aircrash Disaster, quite early in my life.

I remember getting overly excited at games on TV, no doubt shouting at the ref and even wrote to the FA once complaining about the lack of fairness over a dismissal.

However I have started to wonder whether football, especially as it is portrayed in the media and how the premier league is run is truly compatible with me calling myself a Christian. The overriding principle of Football these days is to make money, and this is carried out on the pitch by fair means or foul it would seem. The amount of players who all too readily try and win a penalty by diving is evidence of this. When the commentators suggest that it is reasonable for the player to go to ground - that is what you should do for the team after all - and hearing players and managers support their colleagues when it is clear that their has been chea…

The First Morning I stand
in the midst of Hell Pain and
suffering surround me. I
arrived bound, but now I am free. The
thief lies cowering in the corner I spread
my wings and light spreads everywhere The
darkness flees before it. I break
the gates of Hell, those held for eternity are freed. I live

Through
darkness and mist I open
my eyes and wake. Light
streams into the place where I am A man in
white stands by the doorway Hands
expertly free me from a shroud Gently I
am helped to stand I rise I stand
by a cross I see my
friends running to the Tomb Peter
goes inside He still
looks broken John
looks around but doesn’t see me They
leave I have
risen Mary is
left, she sees me Asks me
what I have done with the body. “Mary” “Rabboni” Sweet
Joy.Mary understands. I am
left alone with the cross and an empty tomb I am
risen I am the
resurrection and the life Come to
me and I will give you rest Today is
the new beginning, the new covenant Live
with me!I am risen so that you may rise
in me

My legs won't work, I can hardly see;
I fall, landing face first in the dross of humanity.
I feel strong arms
A face I have seen before, Simon Cyrene
I look into his eyes, into his soul
In hell's midst, another child is saved.

Piercing pain shoots through my wrists and feet.
I am blind.
All I can hear is the Tempters voice
"Save yourself", "Follow me and you can be their King"
I am God. I am love

Love the enemy

My God, My God, where are you?
The darkness closes in
My mind swirls in freefall...
Into the wings of the Father.
Father forgive them.

Love the enemy

The bonds break free
The shackles are broken
Tempter is defeated.
I reach out in love, he runs to hide
Light bursts forth
Love endu…

The Garden Prayer; I don’t want to be here My insides convulse with fear; Is there a way out? What if I just walk away? Prayer; I can’t sleep, I hear every sound; Senses on red alert The snoring of my friends Father how can they sleep? Prayer; Father, I know your will We are one. Angel whispers; “Do not be afraid” The tempter retorts, “Walk away” Prayer; NO!!! My cry wakes Peter from a slumber I am sweating blood; I am cold – shivering Torches approach up the hill – it is coming. Prayer; Father hold me close; Spirit fill me We are one Judas.A kiss. A scuffle.A sword flashes One more healing – My friends run away It is done.

Sermon: Have you ever
found yourself in a position where you feel there is nowhere to go. A no-win
scenario.I am sure you have all been in situations
where you need to do or say something, knowing that whatever you do or say the
outcome will be challenging.The story
of Lazarus’ resurrection from the dead by Jesus, I think, opens a window for us
on just this type of situation.It also
gives us three perspectives.Two from
humanity; one accepting God, the other rejecting God.And further it gives us a glimpse of God’s
perspective on life, and his take on how to cope with “no win” scenarios. First of all it’s
worth looking a little at who wrote about this story, and where they were
based. These lines of
scripture from the Gospel of John were written and composed by the Johannine
Community in Ephesus towards the latter part of the first Century.Most scholars agree that the final version of
the Gospel was produced between 90-100 C.E.Whilst it is quite possible that the Gospel was written by John…